Automatic clutch-coupling for shafts.



PATENTED APP.. 2, 1907.

v No. 849,288.

J. P. THOMAS.

AUTOMATIC CLUTCH COUPLING FOR SHAFTS.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.13.1906.

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W/T/VESSES I Shafts, of which the following is .To all whom t mayconcern:

JESSE F. THOMAS, OF NEW LONDON, WISCONSIN.

AUTCMATIC CLUTCH-COUPLING FOR SHAFTS.

ivo/849,288.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application filed April 13, 1906. Serial No. 311,495.

Be it known that I, JESSE F. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of New London, in the county of Waupaca and State ofWisconsin, have invented a new and Improved Automatic Clutch-Couplingfor a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to shafting; and the object of the invention isto produce a coupling adapted to be placed in driving-shafting whichwill be ineffective when the-v drivingshaft is rotating at low speed,but which will come into operation automatically when the speed issufficiently increased.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of-parts tobe more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section through the coupling. Thissection is taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a transversesection on the line 2 2 of`Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectionon the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Before proceeding to a detailed descriptionA of the invention it mayfacilitate the disclosure to state that the invention is especiallyapplicable where it is desirable to start the engine or other primemover before the load is taken thereb i The invention is expected to beespecially useful as a coupling in the line-shafting of launches, theobject being to enable the engine to start before the propeller of theaunch iS caused to rotate.

particularly to the parts, 1 represents the projecting extremity of theengine-shaft. To this shaft there is rigidly attached by the Set-screws2 the hub 3 of a barrel or casing 4, the said barrel comprising acylindrical shell 5 and a head 6, to which the Same is removablyattached by screws 7, as indicated. The said head 6 is integral with thehub 3, as shown. In its inner face the head 6 is provided with athreaded opening 8, which receives the threaded extremity of acoupling-shaft 9.' This shaft extends lon- 'tudinally within the casing,as shown, and

Referring more as a reduced neck 10 formed near the outer extremitythereof. The extremity of this neck is provided with screw-threads 11,vas

las shown.

Aface 30 of the these weights 31 are formed into indicated in Fig. 1,.By reason of the reduced neck 10 a shoulder 12 is produced on thecoupling-shaft 9. The line-shaft 13, which leads to vthe propeller ofthe launch or to mechanism which is driven through the coupling, 1s inaxial alinement with the couphng-shaft 9 and abuts against the threadedextremity thereof, as shown in Fig. 1. To this line-shaft 13 the clutchmember 14 is rigidly attached by. means of suitable setscrews 15, thesaid clutch member comprising a body 16, which is connected by radialarms 17 with the hub of the clutch member,

This body 16 is formed at its center into a sleeve or hub 18 and isprovided with a rim 19, which is formed with a conical bore 20, asindicated. This clutch member 14 is loosely mounted upon the neck 10 andis retained thereupon by means of Spannernuts 21, which screw upon thethreads 11, as indicated, a Suitable washer 22 being placed against thebase of -the clutch member, as shown. The inner extremity of the clutchmember 14 seats against a Suitable washer or ring 23, which is disposedagainst the aforesai Shoulder 12.

Slidably mounted upon the sleeve 18 there is a second clutch member 24,which consists of a heavy disk having a conical face 26, which isadapted to seat in the conical bore 2O aforesaid. This disk 24 is formedwith a lcentral bore, which fits snugly upon the outer v surface of thesleeve 18, as Shown, and it is further provided with a contracted boreor opening 27, which fits the diameter of the shaft 9. The body 28 oftheclutch member 24 is of reduced diameter, as shown in Fig. 2, and isprovided with diametrically-disposed slots 29, which extend inwardly tothe outer disk of the clutch member. These slots 29 receive the innerextremities of counterweights 31 which are within .the shell 5 onopposite sides of the shaft 9, as indicated. The extremities of heads32, which rest against the face 30, heads are provided with toes 33,which project toward the shaft 9, as indicated. Just at this point theshaft 9 is provided with a transversely-disposed key or gib 34, andagainst the projecting extremities of this gib the toes 33 press. Y

As indicated -most clearly i'n Fig. 3, within `the casing 4 and on eachside of the shaft 9 helical s gs 35 are respectively attached. Theforward extremities of these springs are and these IIO , that as theinvention isnsed in other connec- I gineshaft 1 is rotating at asufficiently high 4rate of speed the weights 31 will be thrown .28 ofthe clutch member j 24 toward the clutch member 14.

'.a driving-shaft, while the shaft L13 is a driven der to enable thetension of thesesprings to be adjusted, their forward extremities areconnected to swivel-heads 36, mounted in stirrups 37, which stirrupsattach to adjusting-screws 38, set in the head 6, as shown most clearlyin Fig. 3.

It should be understood that when the enoutwardly by centrifugal force.In order Ito hold the heads 32 in position, I provide a ring 39, whichis preferably shrunk upon the body 24. As the weights move outwardly thefiat toes 33 rock slightly `upon the shaft 9, which. they engage, andthe heads 32 operate vto force the clutch member In this way when asufficientlyl high number of revolutions isv reached the rotation of theclutch member 24 will be transmitted frictionally to the clutchmember'lll, and the shaft 13 will then be driven.V In Fig. 1 the dottedlines illustrate the outward movement of the weights 31, and it will beseen that the outer sides of these `weights will come against theforward or outer edge of the ring 39 in such a way that this ring willlimit their movement, as suggested.

While I have referred in the specification t0 the shaft 1 as anengine-shaft and the shaft 13 as a line-shaft, it should be understoodtions the shaft 1 maybe considered simply as shaft. Furthermore, thecoupling-shaft 9 may be considered asian extension of theengine-shaft 1. f

Havingk thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure.by Lettersl 1. Ina shaft-coupling, in combination, a clutch me beradapted to be attachedto a driven sha t, a shaft inp-alinementtherewith, a second clutch member slidably mounted on said first clutchmember and having slots therein, counterweights having heads yreceivedin said slots and having toes abutting the side of said shaft, and aprojecting memj lber carried by said shaft and engaged by said toeswhereby the outward movement of said geights will advance said secondclutch mem- 2. In a shaft-coupling, in combination, a clutch memberadapted to be attached to a driven shaft, a shaft alining therewith, asecond clutch member slidably mounted on said shaft and havingdiametrically-disposed slots, a transverse gib mounted in said shaft andhaving its extremities projecting into said slots, weights having headslying in said slots land having toes engaging the edge of said gib andthe side of said shaft.

3. In a 'shaft-coupling, in combination,a clutch member adapted to beattached to a driven shaft, a shaft in alinement therewith, a' secondclutch member slidably mounted on said first clutch member and havingslots therein, counterweights having heads received in said slots andhaving toes abutting theside of said shaft, a projecting member carried'by said shaft and engaged by said toes whereby the outward movement oflsaid weights will advance said second clutch meinber, and means fornormally holding said second clutch member out of engagement with saidfirst clutch member.

4.- In combination, a driven shaft, e clutch member rigidly attachedthereto, a drivingshaft, a casing rigidly attached to said driving-shaftand having a shell surrounding said clutch member, a second clutchmember mounted within said casing and adapted to slide toward said firstclutch member, said second clutch member having slots therein, saidshaft having a transversely-disposed gib projecting into said slotsweights mounted in said ease on each side of said shaft and havinguheads disposed in said slots, said heads having toes engagimy the sideof said shaft and th-edges of said gil said heads abutting the face ofsaid second clutch member and affording means for advancing the samewhen said weights fiy outwardly.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

.V JESSE F. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

MAT SCHMIT, WM. NUssBAUM.

